Tunable large-scale regular array of topological defects in nematic liquid crystals

Abstract

Arrays of topological defects in liquid crystals are fascinating systems, as isotropic and anisotropic phases of the same material can co-exist and be arranged in regular periodic structures. The arrays thus form spatially-varying optical pathways, in patterns that can be used for optics, as novel photonic structures, optical gratings, lenses or metamaterials, and for molecular and colloidal self-assembly. However, for practical applications, it is necessary that the arrays are tunable without direct intervention of the experimenters. Here, we demonstrate single-domain, tunable arrays of topological defects in nematic liquid crystals, using a method inspired by the recent work by Orihara and colleagues. The regularity and domain size of the defect arrays are obtained by using periodic lateral modulation of electric fields generated by incompletely etched electrodes with periodic conductivity. The period of the arrays, i.e. the characteristic spacing between defects, is controllable not only through the applied electric field strength and frequency but also by varying the size of the patterned electrodes. We believe these results open a new way to design and fabricate large-scale, single-domain, tunable and scalable device architectures that are optically functional.